
The dedication of Sal Viscuso to the craft of acting can be dated to a singular evening in 1967. A college freshman, he happened upon a teleplay of Ronald Ribman's CBS Playhouse: The Final War of Olly Winter (1967) and was so inspired by Ivan Dixon's Emmy-winning rendition of the title role that he entered the drama department the very next day, later explaining, "I felt that there I had found my family." He earned his BA from the University of California at Davis, then went on to study with Olympia Dukakis at NYU School of the Arts, from which he graduated with an MFA.
Opportunities presented themselves rapidly, and Sal made his film debut in the classic The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). An introduction to Burt Metcalfe, associate producer of the iconic series M*A*S*H (1972), led to his move to Los Angeles, and soon Sal was a regular on NBC's sitcom The Montefuscos (1975). He was an off-screen loudspeaker announcer (as well as various other characters) on M*A*S*H (1972); appeared in Gene Wilder's homage to 1920's Hollywood, The World's Greatest Lover (1977); improvised in Robert Altman's Three Women (1977); and played multiple parts on the beloved Barney Miller (1975) (one of which was written especially for him by the show's creator, Danny Arnold).
He was also to feature in what TIME magazine has rated as one of the "Top 100 TV shows of all time," Susan Harris's Soap (1977). His vocationally challenged Father Timothy Flotsky (and the show's depiction of one of the first openly gay characters on network television), created instant controversy that attracted 19 million viewers to the series premiere. Shortly thereafter, Sal commenced his professional association with the Bancroft/Brooks combine of talent, first appearing in Anne Bancroft's Fatso (1980), and then in Mel Brooks' Spaceballs (1987), about which he has remarked, "I continue to get more attention from that project than from anything I've ever done!"

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
Judge
2022

Station 19
Mr. Phillips · (1 episode)
2018

9-1-1
Anton · (1 episode)
2018

Hollywood Seagull
Dr. Don Dorn
2013

Scandal
Clark · (2 episodes)
2012

Castle
Tommy Valentine · (1 episode)
2009

The Mentalist
Walter · (1 episode)
2008

The Cure for Boredom
Joey
2001

When Billie Beat Bobby
Sports Writer Mike
2001

The Amati Girls
Father Dedice
2001

Boston Public
Arthur Ryan · (1 episode)
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Sal Avelino · (1 episode)
1999

Providence
(1 episode)
1999

EZ Streets
(1 episode)
1996

Pinocchio's Revenge
Jail Guard
1996

The Dentist
Matthew Zeigler
1996

Kicking and Screaming
Bar Teacher
1995

Perry Mason: The Case of the Jealous Jokester
1995

Touched by an Angel
Dennis · (1 episode)
1994

ER
Mr. Weller · (1 episode)
1994

Diagnosis: Murder
Dick Douglas · (1 episode)
1993

Diagnosis: Murder
Phil · (1 episode)
1993

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
Bobby Bigmouth · (5 episodes)
1993

Batman: The Animated Series
Monk (voice) · (1 episode)
1992

Beverly Hills, 90210
Hal Zareth · (1 episode)
1990

American Dreamer
(1 episode)
1990

Dream On
Policeman (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1990

Booker
(1 episode)
1989

14 Going on 30
Mr. Lloyd
1988

Jake and the Fatman
(1 episode)
1987

Spaceballs
Radio Operator
1987

Sledge Hammer!
(1 episode)
1986

Jake Speed
News stand Attendant
1986

Matlock
(1 episode)
1986
2 1/2 Dads
1986

Amazing Stories
Sergeant Redmond · (1 episode)
1985

Spenser: For Hire
(1 episode)
1985

This Wife for Hire
Paul Bellini
1985

Cover Up
(1 episode)
1984

Hunter
Sam Olan · (1 episode)
1984

Princess Daisy
Wingo · (2 episodes)
1983

Max Dugan Returns
Coach Roy
1983

It Takes Two
(1 episode)
1982

Silver Spoons
(1 episode)
1982

Family Ties
Richard Jacobs · (1 episode)
1982

Family Ties
Richard Grasso · (1 episode)
1982

Cagney & Lacey
Keppler · (3 episodes)
1982

Fantasies
1982

Fame
(1 episode)
1982

Falcon Crest
Judge Connor Stewart · (1 episode)
1981

Simon & Simon
(2 episodes)
1981
Today's F.B.I.
(1 episode)
1981

Magnum, P.I.
Herbie · (1 episode)
1980

Fatso
Vito
1980

The Facts of Life
(1 episode)
1979

Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
1978

Fantasy Island
Prosecutor · (1 episode)
1978

The World's Greatest Lover
Assistant Director
1977

The Love Boat
Doug Ketchum · (1 episode)
1977

The Love Boat
Mark Carlson · (1 episode)
1977

The Love Boat
Charley Cole · (1 episode)
1977

Soap
Father Tim · (8 episodes)
1977

Soap
Tim Flotsky · (9 episodes)
1977

Soap
Father Timothy Flotsky · (1 episode)
1977
The Montefuscos
Nunzio Montefusco · (9 episodes)
1975

Barney Miller
Brenner · (1 episode)
1975

Barney Miller
Thomas Vitella · (1 episode)
1975

Barney Miller
Joseph Beatty · (1 episode)
1975

Barney Miller
Victor Renaldi · (1 episode)
1975

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Ptl. O'Keefe
1974

M*A*S*H
Patient John · (2 episodes)
1972

M*A*S*H
Sergeant Raymond McGill · (1 episode)
1972

The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961